China Puts Online Mafia Games on Its Hit List

[Coventina]

Source: New York Times

BEIJING — Whether it be religion, environmentalism or nonprofit charities, the Chinese government has always been wary of any organized activity it cannot directly control.

A new addition to the list: simulated organized crime.

On Monday, the Ministry of Culture issued a notice banning online games that feature Mafioso kingpins, marauding street gangs or any sort of hooliganism predisposed to organization.

The decree, which promises “severe punishment” for violators but fails to specify the penalties, also prohibits Web sites from including links to Internet games that glorify organized crime.

Such games, the ministry said, “embody antisocial behavior like killing, beating, looting and raping” and “gravely threatens and distorts the social order and moral standards, easily putting young people under harmful influence.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/world/asia/29china.html

[aroach]

1. Oh no!

I hope this doesn't mean I'm going to lose some of my team in Mafia Wars on Facebook.